What is Title Insurance?

Title Insurance is issued in the United States upon the purchase of real property. A title insurance policy ensures that you have clear and marketable title to a property when you close. Title insurance has many facets to it like lien searches, title commitments, title policies etc. Wikipedia defines title insurance as “indemnity insurance against financial loss from defects in title to real property and from the invalidity or unenforceability of mortgage liens?. Title insurance protects the owner of the property as well as the lender's financial interest in the property against loss due to defects in title, liens, judgments, etc. A lien that shows up in a Title Search will cause the title to be clouded (defective) and will make the title unmarketable. What this means is that unless the buyer is willing to buy the property with the existing defect, the property cannot be transferred prior to being resolved.

Title insurance is essential for you to have peace of mind that your new home and property is yours without defect.

Verify with your Title Company: Is their Insurance in Place?

Client protection is one of the most important concerns at Independence Title. There are many types of insurances and bonds that a licensed title company must carry. The first type of insurance is called Errors & Omissions Insurance. This is an insurance policy that protects individuals and companies from having to pay the entire cost of defending against a negligence claim made by a customer, and damages awarded in such a civil lawsuit. Also title companies must carry two types of bonds, a Fidelity Bond and a Surety Bond. A fidelity bond is a type of insurance that covers policyholders for losses caused by fraudulent acts. A Surety Bond is a promise to pay one party in the case of a title company the Department of Insurance an amount if the Title Company fails to meet their obligation, such as satisfying the terms of a contract.